Shooting car for underground mine operation



J. A. SWANSON March 27, 1962 SHOOTING CAR FOR UNDERGROUND MINE OPERATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1959 INVENTOR. Jw7Z5 dfzuczrwo March 27, 1962 J. A. SWANSON 3,027,146

SHOOTING CAR FOR UNDERGROUND MiNE OPERATION 6 Sheet's-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1959 93;? INVENTIGR.

Jamesdfiz/arworz,

o BY March 27, 1962 A. SWANSON SHOOTING CAR FOR UNDERGROUND MINE OPERATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 g INVENTOR JdfiZfi d 540427260/2,

Filed May 21, 1959 March 27, 1962 J. A. SWANSON SHOOTING CAR FOR UNDERGROUND MINE OPERATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 21, 1959 March 27, 1962 J. A. SWANSON SHOOTING CAR FOR UNDERGROUND MINE OPERATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 21, 1959 MMAQQRRQQQ INVENTOR March 27, 1962 J. A. SWANSON 3, 7, 4

SHOOTING CAR FOR UNDERGROUND MINE OPERATION Filed May 21, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. Janzafid Jam/250m,

United States Patent 3,027,146 SHOOTING CAR FUR UNDERGROUND MINE OPERATION James A. Swanson, Park Forest, 11]., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Marmon-I-Ierrington Company, Inc.,

Indianapolis, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Filed May 21, 1959, Ser. No. 814,852 2 Claims. (Cl. 262-8) This invention relates, generally, to vehicles for use in coal mining operations and it has particular relation to vehicles for use underground.

An arrangement now being widely used for the mining of coal underground is illustrated in Hesson et al. Patent No. 2,858,764, issued November 4, 1958. It shows how a number of air blasting cartridges of the type described in Hesson et a1. Patent No. 2,794,395, issued June 4, 1957 can be inserted in a coal face and then can be sequentially operated in order to knock down the coal. The control for the several blasting devices is provided by a shooting valve that is located in the high pressure air hose which interconnects a source of high pressure air and the blasting cartridges through the sequential valve mechanisms. The shooting valve is located around a corner of the room in which the blasting operation is being carried out for safety reasons. It has been the custom in the past to transport the blasting cartridges, sequence valves, the shooting valve and other accessory equipment to the room in which the blasting operations are to be carried out and then to leave it up to the shot firer and his assistants to manually carry the blasting devices and accessory equipment from one location to another. Not only is this arduous work but considerable time is lost in handling the equipment. Further, the equipment is likely to become damaged and in some instances lost.

Accordingly, among the objects of this invention are: To provide improved means for transporting high pressure air blasting cartridges and accessory equipment under ground in a coal mine; to provide for carrying the blasting cartridges in a new and improved manner; to mount the cartridges lengthwise of a three wheeled motor driven vehicle and centrally thereof for transport; to mount the high pressure air hose for connection to a source of high pressure air to apply blasting pressure to the cartridges on a reel that is rotatably mounted on the rear of the vehicle and can be payed as the vehicle moves forwardly; to provide for winding up the high pressure air hose on rearward movement of the vehicle; to locate the controls for the drive motor and the reel on the vehicle and below the blasting cartridges carried thereby; to provide a second reel on the vehicle for receiving a high pressure air hose for connection to a blasting cartridge in blasting position; to interconnect the hoses on the two reels through a shooting valve; to drive the reel at the rear of the vehicle through the drive to the rear wheels; to mount one or more sequence valves on the vehicle and provide for connecting them to two or more blasting cartridges in blasting position; to provide two sets of sequence valves on the vehicle and arrange for selectively connecting one set or the other to the air hose on the reel at the rear of the vehicle; to provide zig-zag support means on the vehicle for mounting the blasting cartridges for transport; and to provide an electric motor on the vehicle and arrange for selectively connecting it to drive the rear wheels, to drive a hose reel and to drive a conductor reel.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the .in full elevation;

3,627,146 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 appliciation of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention reference can be had to the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a three wheeled vehicle embodying the present invention, certain parts being broken away in order to more clearly illustrate the features of construction;

FIGURE 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the vehicle shown in FIGURE 1, the blasting cartridges being shown FIGURE 3 is a view, in front elevation, of the vehicle shown in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a modification of the vehicle shown in the preceding figures, the blasting cartridges being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a view, in side elevation, of the vehicle shown in FIGURE 4, the blasting cartridges being shown in transport position;

FIGURE 6 is a view, in front elevation, of the vehicle shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view showing a modification of a rack that can be employed for supporting the blasting cartridges in transport position;

FIGURE 8 illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement for employing two sets of sequence valves arranged for selectively controlling the operation of one or the other of two sets of blasting cartridges in blasting position;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the vehicle which can be employed in practicing this invention, one of the blasting cartridges being shown by broken lines and the balance omitted in order to illustrate more clearly the details of construction;

FIGURE 10 is a view, in side elevation, of the vehicle shown in FIGURE 9, the blasting cartridges being shown by broken lines in position for transport; and

FIGURE 11 is a view taken generally along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10, the blasting cartridges being omitted.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 10 designates, generally, a three wheeled vehicle or shooting car for underground mine operation. The vehicle 10 is provided with a generally rectangular body or frame 11 and at the front end there is a dirigible front wheel that can be guided by a steering handle 13. At the other end of the vehicle 10 there are two rear wheels 14 that are mounted on a rear axle 15. A motor 16 is positioned in driving connection with the axle 15 for operating the vehicle 10 and is arranged to be powered by a battery 17.

An important function of the vehicle 10 is to provide for efliciently transporting a number of blasting cartridges that are indicated, generally, at 19. The blasting cartridges 19 may be of the type described in Hesson et al. Patent No. 2,794,395, issued June 4, 1957, and they are arranged to be mounted centrally of the vehicle 10 and to extend lengthwise thereof. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the blasting cartridges 19 are arranged in a pyramid and chains 20 are provided therearound for insuring that they do not become separated. In order to support the blasting cartridges 19 racks 21 -21 in the form of angles are provided near the front and rear of the vehicle 19. It will be noted that grooves 22 are formed in the upright flanges of the racks 2l-21 for the purpose of receiving the lowermost layer of blasting cartridges 19. The rack 21 is supported near the front of the vehicle 10 by support angles 23. Near the rear of the vehicle 10 the rack 21 is mounted on a platform 24 which overlies the motor 16 and battery 17. 7

When the blasting cartridges 19 are inserted in bore holes in the coal face, provision is made for supplying compressed air under high pressure thereto. Pressures of the. order of 6,000 to 10,000 pounds per square inch are used for this purpose. The air compressed to these pressures is supplied through a high pressure air hose 25 from a source of high pressure that usually is located at a point remote from the coal face. Ordinarily, the source of high pressure air is located near the entry to the mine at the surface of the earth and steel line tubing connects the compressor to various distribution points in the mine. From one of these distribution points the high pressure air hose 25 serves to convey the high pressure air to the coal face for performing the blasting operation. It will be noted that the high pressure air hose 25 is wound on a reel 26 which, in turn, is mounted on a shaft 27 that is journaled at its ends in brackets 28 which extend rearwardly from the vehicle It). As the vehicle moves forwardly, the high pressure air hose is payed out from the point where the connection is made to the steel line tubing. It is desirable that provision be made for winding the high pressure air hose 25 on the reel 26 when the vehicle 10 moves rearwardly. For this purpose the reel 26 and shaft 27 are arranged to be rotated through a chain drive 29 by a motor 36 that is mounted on the rear of the vehicle 10.

In those instances where it is not desired to leave the vehicle 10. adjacent the coal face, provision is made for interconnecting the high pressure air hose 25 on the reel 26 with the blasting cartridges 19 in blasting position. For this purpose a high pressure. air hose 33 can be used. It is mounted on a reel 34 that is rotatably mounted with a shaft 35 near the front end .ofthe vehicle 10 on brackets 36.. 'IIhe'high pressure air hose 33 canbe payed. out by pullingon it: In order to windup the air hose 3-3 onto the reel "34 a chain drive 37 is employed and is arranged to be operated 'bya motor 38.

Anv-suitablemeans can be employed for controlling theoperation of the vehicle drivemotor 16 andthe reel drive motors and 38. For example, a drive motor controller 40 can be provided for the motor 16. A rear reel motor controller 41 and a front reel motor'controller 42 also are provided and arranged to control the energizetion of the respective motors from the battery 17. The electrical connections are shown diagrammatically by broken lines. It will be observed that the controllers 40, 41 and 42 are located adjacent the steering handle 13 where they can be operated conveniently by the operator who can ride on the body 11 of 'the vehicle 10 adjacent the left side thereof.

As described in Hesson et al. Patent No. 2,858,764, issued November 4, 1958, it often .is desirable to operate the blasting cartridges 19' in a certain sequence. For this.

purpose sequence valves, shown generally at 43, can be employed. The construction and operation of these sequence valves are set forth in detail in the last mentioned patent. For transport they are mounted, as shown. in FIGURE 1, on the body 11 of the vehicle 10.

Where the high pressure air hose 33 is employed in the blasting operation, it can be connected by a connection 44 which extends from the front reel 34 to the rear-reel 26 and provides a direct connection between the high pressure hoses 3'3 and 25. Interposed in the connection 44 isa shooting valve 45 and a gage 46 can be provided for indicating the pressure existing at the control position.

In operation the blasting cartridges 19 are lashed in place on the vehicle 10 by the chains 26 and by the lower layer being located in the grooves 22 on the racks 21-2\l. The high pressure air hose 33 is fully wound on the front reel and one end of the high pressure air hose 25 is connected to a distribution point of the steel line tubing which, it Will be recalled, is connected to a source of high pressure air at a remote location. The operator then mounts the vehicle 10 and operates the drive motor controller 40 to move the vehicle 10 forwardly. He guides it by the steering handle 13 to the particular room in the coal mine where the blasting operation is to be performed. The required number of blasting cartridges 19" are unloaded and inserted in previously drilled holes in the coal face and are connected through the required number of sequence valves 43 to one end of the high pressure air hose 33. The vehicle It then is'backed. out .of the room where the blasting operationis to .be'performed. During this operation the high pressure air hose 33 is payed off of the reel '34 and the high pressure air hose 25 is rewound on the reel 26. When the vehicle 10 has been moved to a safe location, the connection 44 is completed through the shooting valve 45. Then the shooting valve 4 5 is opened and the blasting cartridges 19, previously placed in the bore holes, are operated sequentially in the manner described in more detail in Hesson et al. Patent No. 2,858, 764, issued November 4, 195 8.. After one blasting operation has been completed, the blasting cartridges 19 can be placed in other previously drilled bore holes in the same coal face and'then the operation repeated. When the complete blasting operation has been accomplished, the vehicle 10 is again moved into the room accompanied by paying out of the high pressure air hose 25 and reeling in of the high pressure air hose 33. Theblasting cartridges 19 used in the blasting operation then are remounted on the racks 21--21 and the sequence valves 43. returned to their position on the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 then is ready for movement to another room where the sequence of operations can be repeated.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 5%! designates, generally, a three wheeled vehicle, similar to the vehicle 10 described 'hereinbefore. Thevehicle 5% includes a rectangular frame or body 51 that is provided with dirigible front wheel 52 that is guided by a steering handle 53. A pair of rear wheels 54: are located at the other end of the body 51'on an axle 55. Amotor 56, arranged to be energized from a battery '57 is employed for driving the rear wheels 50.-

In order to mount the blasting cartridges 19 on the vehicle 59 three racks 60* are employed each having upflared ends 61 as seen more clearly in FIGURE 6. A front support 62 carries the front rack 60 in order to support the blasting cartridges 19 centrally above the vehicle St). A center support 63 carries the intermediate rack'6tl and a rear support 61, mounted on a platform 65 over the motor 56 and battery 57, serves to carry the rear rack 65 Each of the racks 60 is provided with a flat bottom.

A modified construction for the rack 60 is indicated at 66 in FIGURE 7. There it will be observed that a zigzag rack 66 is'employed. The construction is such that the blasting cartridges 1? are separated slightly from each other and are held in position against transverse movement by the troughs of the zig-zag rack 66.

The high pressure air hose 25 is mounted on a reel 70 that is carried by a shaft 71 extending parallel'to the axis of rotation of the axle 55 on which the rear wheels 54 are mounted. The shaft 71 is journaled in brackets 72 which extend rearwardly from the vehicle body 51. In order to drive the shaft 71 and therewith the reel 70 for winding up the high pressure hose 25 a sprocket 73 is provided and it is connected by a chain 74 to a sprocket 75 which is located on an extension of the axle 55. A. clutch 76 is arranged to place the sprocket 73in driving connection with the shaft 71. A handle 77, convenient to the operator located at the left side of the vehicle 50, is arranged to control the operation of the clutch 76 for placing the reel 76in driving engagement with the axle A motor controller 78, FIGURE 5, also convenient to the position of the operator, is provided for elfecting the energization of the motor 56 in a conventionalmanner.

Near the front end of the body 51 and at the right side there is a set of sequence valves indicated, generally, at 81 and an alternate set indicated, generally, at 82. Control valves 83 and 84 also are provided and positioned adjacent the sets 81 and 8 2 of sequence valves. Preferably the sets 81 and 32 of sequence valves and the control valves 83 and 84 remain on the body 51 of the vehicle 50 and it is moved into the room where the blasting operations are to take place and is left there while they are being accomplished.

FIGURE 8 of the drawings shows diagrammatically the arrangement employing the sets 81 and 82 of sequence valves and the control valves 83 and 84 stationarily mounted on the body 51 of the vehicle 51). Here it will be observed that the control valves 83 and 84 are connected respectively to the sets 81 and 82 of sequence valves and that the control valves 83 and 84 are commonly connected at 85 and through a connection 86 to the high pressure hose 25 that is wound on the hose reel 50. A gage 87, connected to the connection 86 serves to indicate the air pressure. The shooting valve 88 is connected in the high pressure air hose 25 between the reel 70 and the source of high pressure air. The arrangement is such that the shooting valve 83 can be located in a position away from the room where the blasting operations are to take place and where the op erator can safely control the shooting valve 558.

The set of blasting cartridges 19 that are inserted in the bore holes in the coal face are indicated by full lines in FIGURE 8. They are connected by hose connections 89 to the several sequence valve 81.

Alternatively, another set of blasting cartridges indicated at 19 and shown by broken lines can be inserted in other bore holes and connected by hose connections 89', shown by broken lines, to the alternate set 82 of sequence valves which here also are shown by broken lines.

Assuming that it is desired to tire the cartridges, shown by the full lines, the control valve 84 is closed and the control valve 83 is opened. Then the operator leaves the room where the blasting operations are to take place and operates the shooting valve 88 to fire sequentially the cartridges 19 shown by the full lines. After this has been accomplished, the shooting valve 88 is closed and the operator returns to the room where he closes control valve 83 and opens control valve 84. Then the sequence of operations is repeated.

FIGURES 9, and ll illustrate still another embodiment of the invention. There is illustrated, generally, at 92 a three Wheeled vehicle which is generally similar to the vehicles 10 and 50 described hereinbefore. The vehicle 92 includes a rectangular frame or body 93 having a triangular front end 94 where a dirigible front wheel 95 is mounted. A steering and pulling handle 96 is provided having oppositely extending hand grips 97. The 1 operator can ride on the vehicle 92 and steer it with the handle 56 in the position shown by broken lines in FIGURE 10. Alternatively, he can pull the vehicle 92 when the handle 96 is swung to the position shown by full lines in FIGURES 9 and 10 of the drawings.

At the rear of the frame or body 93 is a pair of rear wheels 1% which are driven through a differential 101 by chains 102 from a transmission 163. At its front end the transmission 193 has a shaft 104 carrying a sprocket 165 which is connected by chains 166 to be driven by a motor 107.

Also located at the rear of the frame or body 93 is a hose reel 110 on which the high pressure air hose 25 can be Wound and from which it can be payed out in the manner described hereinbe-fore. The hose reel 110 is arranged to rotate about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the rear wheels 109. Provision is made for rotating the hose reel 111) to wind up the high pressure air hose 25 including a worm 111 that is mounted for rotation with a shaft 112. The shaft 112 is driven 6 by a chain 113 from a transmission 114 from the front side of which a shaft 115 projects that is driven by a chain 116 from a sprocket 117 that is mounted on the shaft 104.

Instead of providing a battery for operating the motor 1117, provision is made in accordance with this embodiment of the invention to energize the motor 107 from a remote current source to which connection is made by a two conductor cable 129. The two conductor cable 120 is arranged to be wound on a conductor reel 121 which is positioned endwise of the hose reel 11% and rotates about the same axis. The two conductor cable 120 is connected by conductors 122 through a control switch 123 to the motor 197 for controlling its operation.

In order to rotate the conductor reel 121 a worm 124 is employed and is mounted on a shaft 125 that is driven from a transmission 126. The transmission 126 is driven by a chain 127 from a sprocket 128 that is mounted on the shaft 115.

In order to support blasting cartridges, such as the cartridges 19 previously described, on vehicle 92, zig-zag racks 129 are provided. One of the racks 129 is positioned at the rear of the vehicle 92 and the other is located intermediate its ends as shown in FIGURE 10.

It will be understood that the motor 107 can be energized continuously on operation of the control switch 123. When it is desired to move the vehicle 92 forwardly or rearwardly, a shift lever 163 on the transmission 103 is moved in the proper direction and to the proper position for eifecting the desired direction and speed of operation. Likewise, the transmission 114 is controlled by a lever 114 to control the direction and speed of rotation of the hose reel 110. The direction and speed of operation of the conductor reel 121 is controlled by a corresponding movement of a lever 126' associated with the transmission 126.

The sets 81 and 82 of sequence valves, together with their control valves 83 and 84, are mounted on the body 93 of the vehicle 92. In this embodiment the connections 89 extend from the sets 81 and S2 of sequence valves on the vehicle 92 into the room where the blasting operations are to take place with the vehicle 92 itself being located at a safe position outside of the room. In this embodiment the shooting valve 88 is located on the vehicle 92 between the connection 85 and the high pressure hose 25 that is wound on the rose reel 110.

If desired the control switch 123 can be incorporated in one of the hand grips 97 extending from the steering or pulling handle 96 for more convenient control by the operator.

Experience has indicated that the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 8 is particularly useful in carrying out mining operations. In addition to the equipment carried by the vehicle, as above set forth, apparatus can be provided on it for drilling the holes in which the blasting cartridges are inserted. Further, the compressor to supply the high pressure air to the blasting cartridges can be mounted on the vehicle. When thus completely equipped, the vehicle provides a highly mobile means for transporting the major portion of the mining equipment.

ince certain changes can be made in the foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A shooting car for underground mine operation of air operated blasting cartridges comprising, in combination, a wheeled vehicle capable of traversing coal mine passageways and rooms, a reel rotatably mounted on the rear of said vehicle and a high pressure air hose thereon which can be payed out as the vehicle moves forwardly, means for driving said reel to wind up said high pressure hose, main and alternate sequence valve means on said vehicle, a control valve individual to each sequence valve means'and commonly connected to said high pressure air hose on said reel, means for selectively interconnecting one or the other of said sequence valve means to a plurality of blasting cartridges in blasting positions, and a shooting valve interposed in said high pressure air hose to control the application of compressed air to one or the other sets of blasting cartridges depending upon which of said control valves is open.

2. A shooting car for underground mine operation of air operated blasting cartridges comprising, in combination, a wheeled vehicle capable of traversing coal mine passageways and rooms, means providing a connection on said vehicle to a high pressure air source, main and alternate sequence valve means'on said vehicle, a control valve individual to each sequence valve means and commonly connected to said high pressure connection, means for selectively interconnecting one or the other or said sequence valve means to a plurality of blasting cartridges in blasting positions, and a shooting valve interposed between said high pressure connection and a source of high pressure air therefor to control the application of compressed air to one or the other sets of blasting cartridges depending upon which of said control valves is open.

References Cited in, the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,647,789 Frederick Nov. 1, 1927 1,759,252 Coburn et a1. May 20,, 1930 2,137,940 Goodman Nov. 22, 1938 2,490,162 Ruelle Dec. 6, 1949 2,570,319 Cassady Oct. 9, 1951 2,570,802 Hatteburg Oct. 9, 1951 2,638,996 Vanderzee, May 19, 1953 2,858,764 Hesson et al. Nov. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 212,986 Australia Feb. 18, 1958 

